01212nas a2200169   4500008004100000245003800041210003400079260003200113300001200145490000800157520076500165100002300930700001500953700001500968700002400983856003501007       2012                        eng d00aThe World as Evolving Information0 aWorld as Evolving Information  aBerlin HeidelbergbSpringer  a100-1150 vVII3 aThis paper discusses the benefits of describing the world as information, especially in the study of the evolution of life and cognition. Traditional studies encounter problems because it is difficult to describe life and cognition in terms of matter and energy, since their laws are valid only at the physical scale. However, if matter and energy, as well as life and cognition, are described in terms of information, evolution can be described consistently as information becoming more complex. The paper presents five tentative laws of information, valid at multiple scales, which are generalizations of Darwinian, cybernetic, thermodynamic, and complexity principles. These are further used to discuss the notions of life and cognition and their evolution.1 aGershenson, Carlos1 aMinai, Ali1 aBraha, Dan1 aBar-Yam}, Yaneer, {  uhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0704.030400366nas a2200121   4500008004100000245005100041210005000092300000800142490000600150520003000156100002300186856003500209       2011                        eng d00aWhat does artificial life tell us about death?0 aWhat does artificial life tell us about death  a1-50 v23 aShort philosophical essay1 aGershenson, Carlos  uhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0906.282401719nas a2200133   4500008004100000245009700041210006900138300001000207490000600217520126700223100002301490700002101513856005101534       2009                        eng d00aWhy does public transport not arrive on time? The pervasiveness of equal headway instability0 aWhy does public transport not arrive on time The pervasiveness o  ae72920 v43 aBackground The equal headway instability phenomenon is pervasive in public transport systems. This instability is characterized by an aggregation of vehicles that causes inefficient service. While equal headway instability is common, it has not been studied independently of a particular scenario. However, the phenomenon is apparent in many transport systems and can be modeled and rectified in abstraction. Methodology We present a multi-agent simulation where a default method with no restrictions always leads to unstable headways. We discuss two methods that attempt to achieve equal headways, called minimum and maximum. Since one parameter of the methods depends on the passenger density, adaptive versions–-where the relevant parameter is adjusted automatically–-are also put forward. Our results show that the adaptive maximum method improves significantly over the default method. The model and simulation give insights of the interplay between transport design and passenger behavior. Finally, we provide technological and social suggestions for engineers and passengers to help achieve equal headways and thus reduce delays. Conclusions The equal headway instability phenomenon can be avoided with the suggested technological and social measures.1 aGershenson, Carlos1 aPineda, Luis, A.  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.000729201287nas a2200193   4500008004100000245004700041210004500088260002100133300001400154520075400168100002300922700002300945700001500968700002000983700001701003700001601020700001601036856004101052       2003                        eng d00aWhen Can We Call a System Self-Organizing?0 aWhen Can We Call a System SelfOrganizing  aBerlinbSpringer  a606–6143 aWe do not attempt to provide yet another definition of self-organizing systems, nor review previous definitions. We explore the conditions necessary to describe self-organizing systems, inspired on decades of their study, in order to understand them better. These involve the dynamics of the system, and the purpose, boundaries, and description level chosen by an observer. We show how, changing the level or ``graining'' of description, the same system can be self-organizing or not. We also discuss common problems we face when studying self-organizing systems. We analyse when building, designing, and controlling artificial self-organizing systems is useful. We state that self-organization is a way of observing systems, not a class of systems.1 aGershenson, Carlos1 aHeylighen, Francis1 aBanzhaf, W1 aChristaller, T.1 aDittrich, P.1 aKim, J., T.1 aZiegler, J.  uhttp://arxiv.org/abs/nlin.AO/030302000788nas a2200097   4500008004100000245005200041210004600093520049700139100002300636856003100659       2002                        eng d00aWhere is the problem of ``Where is the mind?''?0 aWhere is the problem of Where is the mind3 aWe propose that the discussions about ``where the mind is'' depend directly on the metaphysical preconception and definition of ``mind''. If we see the mind from one perspective (individualist), it will be only in the brain, and if we see it from another (active externalist), it will be embedded in the body and extended into the world. The ``whereabouts'' of the mind depends on our <concept|definition>1 of mind. Therefore, we should not ask if the mind is somewhere, but if it is somehow.1 aGershenson, Carlos  uhttp://cogprints.org/2620/